Bryan Fuller wanted Lee Pace for season 5 of Hannibal

Bryan Fuller always wants Lee Pace. lol

He wanted him for Dolarhyde. The role that went to Richard Armitage because Lee was busy with HACF.

I believe this is the first time he has mentioned that he is also wanted for the iconic role of Buffalo Bill.

I understand. Thank you for telling me. -The masked bandit

He wanted him for Will Graham, but Lee got cast in The Hobbit. He wanted to do a story arc with him in S1, but Lee was busy with Golden Age. He mentioned on twitter that he would love it if Lee could play Mason Verger in season 2, but that doesn't seem like it was a serious conversation. He wanted him for Dolarhyde. Though he says that he wanted him in this role for years, I don't know how that would be possible if Lee would have appeared in season 1.

The first time he mentioned that he wants Lee for Buffalo Bill was during Q&A on FB, shortly after casting Richard as Red Dragon.

Bad luck 

I know no one agrees with me, but if he wanted Lee so badly for any role/arc, they would have worked it out.

I agree with you, Cin, but maybe Lee didn't want the role??

I love Lee's ability to bring out the empathy in anti-hero characters but Buffalo Bill & Francis Dolarhyde didn't have any sensitivities as I recall from reading the books. (Although I read them 20 years ago...so...those memory cells are long dead by now!  )

That's kind of what I meant. It could be a few reasons he was never in Hannibal, his schedule, the show's schedule, he didn't want to do it or Fuller didn't want him enough to change schedules. I am a little interested in what his future plans are; last interview I heard, he wanted to be on his farm and according to IMDb, he has no upcoming projects. If HACF gets cancelled, I guess he'll just be farmer Lee. 

Farmer Lee ~ good one!
Well if he does become farmer Lee, good for him!
[But sad for us!   ]